Every student in the department is required to submit to a regular periodic review of their work. These reviews are designed to provide students and faculty a structured opportunity to assess and discuss the student’s academic progress within and without the department, their production work, general involvement, areas for needed improvement and future goals. Typically, which review the student goes through is determined by their area of emphasis (acting/directing or tech/design). However, the student is not limited to that specific area. If, for instance, a performer does a major project such as stage managing, they may wish to have their work on that production evaluated. The student and their advisor should discuss which review is appropriate for the student especially if deviating from their principal area of study. Students are always free to do both reviews but they must go through one or the other. Failure to do so can result in ineligibility for crew head, design assignments, casting. As one of the main thrusts of the department is involvement such censure could seriously impact the student’s standing in the program.

The tech/design reviews are held at the end of every semester. The acting/directing reviews are once every year at the end of the spring semester. Each area will post a list of students whom they are expecting to see in their respective reviews. If a student chooses to go through a review outside their expressed emphasis they must make this decision in consultation with their advisor and notify the faculty of their emphasis area of their intention to do so.

Acting Reviews

END YEAR ONE: Each freshman intent on continuing as a performance student is required to present one monologue to the performance faculty. This monologue should be contemporary and suited to the student's age and type and may be humorous or serious.

The presentation will be followed with a discussion about the student's achievements in academics and the production program during their first year at Radford. This discussion will include the student's future aims in the department and their studies. The student is also welcome to present a song if they so desire and to have their resume and/or headshot reviewed at this time.

END YEAR TWO: Students completing their sophomore year will present an audition in the format of VTA/SETC -- this is to include a monologue and song.* They should be contrasting pieces. This audition must also conform to the time limit of the above-mentioned format (90 seconds). The student should also at this time have a performance resume and headshot appropriate for audition distribution to be reviewed by faculty.

An interview will follow to respond to the student's audition, academic progress, areas in which improvement is needed, and goals for the future.

*Even if it has been determined that singing in the VTA/SETC audition itself might be discouraged the student is asked to prepare at least an appropriate section of a simple song such as folk or children's music as these most closely resemble the music appearing in much classical dramatic literature. This song should fit with the monologue within the time limit.

END YEAR THREE: Juniors will present an audition package of three monologues and a song (optional). Two of these monologues should be contemporary, contrasting pieces (one humorous and one dramatic) and the third should be classical (pre-1850) —whereas, a lot of classical auditions require Shakespeare this selection need not be limited to that. They will also submit a headshot and up-to-date resume for review.

The interview to follow will include an update of academic performance, progress in previously identified areas of challenge, and production participation. In addition, the student's post-graduate academic and career objectives will be addressed. If pursuing graduate study, preparation for University and Resident Theatre Association (URTA) graduate school auditions and the application process will be discussed. Professional employment in the subsequent summer will be emphasized calling attention to the student's eligibility for the undergraduate auditions at UPTA (Unified Professional Theatre Auditions) in February of their senior year.

END YEAR FOUR: This year requires the student to present an audition package of no less than their four strongest monologues, and, if they are a singer, a song. They should also present their headshot and resume at this time. The student may opt to do a scene prominently featuring them and two monologues or a monologue and a song.

In the subsequent interview the student's academics, personal progress as a performer, their production activity along with their audition and preparation for future goals will be reviewed.

Please note: At any point you are free to sing as part of your audition (not only in the second year where it is required). If you do so, these selections should fit your type, suit you vocally and be well-prepared /rehearsed with an accompanist. Please, if you intend to sing, or are required to, sign up on a day on which the accompanist is scheduled to be present at the reviews.

Directing Reviews

Students expressing a directing emphasis are to meet the following requirements for regular review:

END YEAR ONE: Same as End Year One Acting Review (see above).

END YEAR TWO: Same as End Year Two Acting Review (see above).

END YEAR THREE: Junior directing students will be expected to go through the tech/design review in the fall of that academic year. In the spring semester the student will complete the application process for directing regardless of whether they intend to direct the following year. The student should sign up for a review time when those times are posted. The performance faculty will discuss the student’s work on the application, and begin to advise them on their career and/or post-graduate education goals. Among other things, URTA and internship options will be discussed. The progress of a director’s portfolio will also be checked.

END YEAR FOUR: The senior directing student will present a director’s portfolio containing documentation of productions and conceptual work. The student’s future plans will be discussed.

Technical Theatre & Design Reviews

YEAR ONE: Each freshman intent on continuing as a tech/design student is required to submit to review by the tech/design faculty.

There will be discussion of the student's achievements in academics and the production program including work in the shops and crew assignments during their first year. This discussion will include the student's future aims in the department and their studies. Summer professional employment/internships will be encouraged with particular emphasis on attending Southeastern Theatre Conference (SETC). The student will present a basic resume for review no later than the end of the spring semester of this first year. The faculty will advise the student to begin keeping photographic records of individual class and production technical drawings and design projects.

YEAR TWO: The student’s academics will be reviewed along with their involvement in the department. An updated resume will be presented along with photographs and other material collected toward the end of creating a portfolio suitable to present to prospective employers and/or graduate school recruiters. For designers, the prospects of a studio design will be considered. Continued involvement in SETC as well as participation in the United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT) will be reiterated.

YEAR THREE: In addition to the student’s academics and department participation the student’s professional experiences will be discussed. Suggestions of crew chief or design opportunities which will challenge the student and broaden their experiences will be made. If not before, discussion will take place of the student’s career or other post-graduate goals with an eye to preparing student for graduate school or professional interviews. In preparation for those the student’s portfolio and resume will be evaluated. Continued involvement in professional organizations will be underscored along with discussion of URTA/graduate school interviews.

YEAR FOUR: The senior student will present their portfolio and resume as though interviewing for a professional position. By the time of the fall review the student should have arranged graduate school and professional interviews in order to talk about these with the faculty and ready themselves for those interviews. Attendance of the URTA graduate school interviews as well as SETC and USITT opportunities for employment and portfolio review will be strongly encouraged.